PG Live and Kicking

As the findings of the recent PG&H Retail Barometer proclaim loud and clear, greeting cards are increasingly a lucrative product for gift retailers to stock, appearing right near the top of an indie’s best performing area - with many indies planning to further expand their selection in 2023.

Well, the good news is that it is not long now until Progressive Greetings Live, the world leading greeting card trade show, which opens its doors on June 6-7 at London’s Business Design Centre.

Greeting cards need no defending. They bring joy and comfort to us as individuals, providing that all important tangible social communication that demonstrate we are valued, thought of and cared for, in the good times and the tough ones.

Meanwhile, the findings of the recently published PG&H Retail Barometer testify the value of greeting cards for gift retailers on a commercial basis, as a store traffic builder as well as the resultant sales revenue.

Greeting cards are right up there as a star performing product area, with 57% of respondents having experienced growth year on year, which is even more impressive given that the previous year saw an amazing sales surge, with cards really coming into their own in Covid times as a meaningful way to connect with loved ones.

Top: Retailers, overseas distributors, agents and exhibitors are all set to be jumping for joy at this June’s PG Live.

Above: The light airy BDC is the perfect venue for PG Live.

Right: Cinnamon Aitch will be adding to the fun(ghi)!

Below: 2 To Tango will be adding its extra dimension to the show.

Left: Doodleshoe is one of the exhibitors in the new Springboard Intro section

The Essentials

When? Tuesday 6 June and Wednesday 7 June 2023

Where? Business Design Centre, Islington, N1 OQH Times? 9.30am-6pm on 6 June (party until 8pm) 9.30am-4.30pm on 7 June

To register head to www.progressivegreetingslive.com

And there is an appetite for more, with over a quarter of gift indies saying that they are planning to further rachet up their greeting card selection this year.

They need look no further than Progressive Greetings Live. With almost 200 exhibitors already signed up - and more in the pipeline - the lineup is already expansive, from the fabulous established names of Woodmansterne, Rosie Made a Thing, Ling Design, Museums & Galleries, The Art File, Abacus, Belly Button Designs, Dean Morris Cards, Five Dollar Shake, Caroline Gardner, Paper Salad, and Pigment, through to fast-growing publishers like Bewilderbeest, Stormy Knight, Raspberry Blossom, and Heyyy Cards, to complete newbies such as Richard’s Gallery, Stoats And Weasels, and Arrthi Little - and the list also includes several key giftwrappings and gift companies too.